Spherical rotary machine having six rotary pistons

Abstract

A spherical rotary machine which may be embodied as a pump, internal combustion engine, compressor or similar other device includes an outer shell with a substantially spherical interior surface, an inner shell including a substantially spherical outer surface centered within the outer shell, and six rotary pistons located between the inner and outer shell. Each piston is rotatable about its own central axis, the six axes being orthogonally centered on the center of the machine. Each piston includes a top convex spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical interior surface of the outer shell, a bottom concave spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical outer surface of the inner shell, and an oval conical side surface which is substantially defined by lines which are substantially radial with respect to a point near the machine center. The oval side surface of any single piston at least nearly touches tangentially along generally radial lines the oval side surface of each of its four adjacent pistons so that any three pistons which are all adjacent to each other form a displacement chamber which varies in size as the pistons simultaneously rotate. Each piston is operably connected to a gear which is interconnected with the gears of the other pistons to regulate the relative positions of the pistons to ensure that all the pistons rotate with identical speed and direction with respect to the center of the machine. These gears may be located within or without the outer shell of the machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spherical rotary machine comprising: (a) an outer shell including a substantially spherical interior surface forming an interior with a center; and   (b) six rotary pistons within the interior of the outer shell which are each rotatable about its own central axis, the six axes being orthogonally centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, each piston including a top convex spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical interior surface, and an oval conical side surface substantially defined by line segments which are substantially radial with respect to a point near the center, the oval side surface of each piston at least nearly touching tangentially along generally radial line segments the oval side surface of each of its four adjacent pistons as the six pistons rotate, so that the oval side surfaces of any three adjacent pistons form a displacement chamber which varies in size as the pistons rotate.   
     
     
       2. The spherical rotary machine of claim 1 wherein the generally radial line segments where three adjacent pistons at least nearly touch define, on the oval conical side surfaces of the three pistons, substantially identical portions which change in size with piston rotation, and wherein the displacement chambers are each centered equidistant from the axes of the three adjacent pistons. 
     
     
       3. The spherical rotary machine of claim 1 further comprising means for causing the pistons to rotate at identical angular velocities and directions with respect to the center of the interior of the outer shell. 
     
     
       4. The spherical rotary machine of claim 1 further comprising: a central core centered within the interior of the outer shell; and six piston shafts which each extend from the central core into a bearing hole in a truncated bottom surface of one piston in coaxial relation tot he piston central axis. 
     
     
       5. The spherical rotary machine of claim 4 further comprising: at least three piston gears, each piston gear coaxially connected to the truncated bottom surface of one piston to rotate with the piston; and at least one connecting gear positioned between three adjacent piston gears and operably connected thereto, so that rotation of any one piston causes simultaneous rotation of at least two other pistons. 
     
     
       6. The spherical rotary machine of claim 1 further comprising: an inner shell including a substantially spherical outer surface thereon centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, wherein each piston includes a bottom concave spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical outer surface of the inner shell, truncating the oval conical side surface. 
     
     
       7. The spherical rotary machine of claim 6 wherein the inner shell has six openings, each aligned with one piston axis, and the machine further includes six piston gears, each piston gear coaxially connected to the bottom surface of one piston and extending through one opening into the inner shell; a central core which is centered within the interior of the outer shell and the inner shell; six piston axles which each extend from the central core into a bearing hole in one piston gear and piston in coaxial relation to the piston central axis; and eight connecting gears, each connecting gear rotatably mounted between the central core and inner shell and between and operably connected to three adjacent piston gears so that rotation of any piston causes rotation of all pistons. 
     
     
       8. The spherical rotary machine of claim 7 wherein the piston gears and connecting gears are bevel gears which are beveled at an angle of about 27.3678° to their axes. 
     
     
       9. The spherical rotary machine of claim 1 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two piston ends which are about 180° apart with respect to the central axis and are each inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston, and wherein the oval conical surface at about 90° from either end with respect to the central axis is inclined at approximately a 35.2644° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       10. The spherical rotary machine of claim 9 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which are each centered at about 90° from both ends with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
       11. The spherical rotary machine of claim 10 wherein the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections extend to and intersect at each piston end along a line which is inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       12. The spherical rotary machine of claim 10 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston further includes two cylindrical surface sections at the ends of the piston which intersect the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which extend between the cylindrical surface sections. 
     
     
       13. The spherical rotary machine of claim 12 wherein the two cylindricaI surface sections of each piston at least nearly touch only the elliptical conical surface sections of other pistons as the pistons rotate. 
     
     
       14. The spherical rotary machine of claim 3 wherein four of said rotary pistons are equatorial pistons having coplanar central axes, each equatorial piston having a cavity extending radially inwardly from a top of the piston and formed concentric to the central axis of the piston; and wherein the machine further includes: a motor for each equatorial piston substantially located within the cavity and mounted to the outer shell, and means for directing rotational motion from each motor to the adjacent piston.   
     
     
       15. The spherical rotary machine of claim 14 wherein the spherical interior surface of the outer shell defines an access opening for each equatorial piston located radially outward from the piston cavity with respect to the center of the interior; and wherein the outer shell further includes a piston cover for each equatorial piston which each is positioned' to cover and close one access opening and cavity. 
     
     
       16. The spherical rotary machine of claim 15 wherein the rotational motion directing means for each piston comprises a small gear on a shaft of the motor, at least one spur gear pivotally mounted to the adjacent piston cover and operably connected to the small gear, and an inside ring gear positioned along a periphery of the piston cavity and which is operably connected to the spur gears so that rotation of the motor shaft causes rotation of the piston. 
     
     
       17. The spherical rotary machine of claim 10 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an inlet passage forming an inlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of inlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each inlet aperture lags with respect to the adjacent piston end. 
     
     
       18. The spherical rotary machine of claim 10 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an outlet passage forming an outlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of outlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each outlet aperture leads with respect to the adjacent end. 
     
     
       19. A heart pump machine comprising: (a) an outer shell including a substantially spherical interior surface forming an interior with a center and at least one fluid transfer opening; and   (b) six rotary pistons within the interior of the outer shell which are each rotatable about its own central axis, the six axes being orthogonally centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, each piston including a top convex spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical interior surface, an oval conical side surface substantially defined by line segments which are radial with respect to the center and including two piston ends which are about 180° apart with respect to the central axis and two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which are each centered at about 90° from both ends with respect to the central axis, the oval side surface of each piston at least nearly touching tangentially along generally radial line segments the oval side surface of each of its four adjacent pistons as the six pistons rotate, so that the oval side surfaces of any three adjacent pistons form a displacement chamber which varies in size as the pistons rotate, two of said pistons which have coaxial central axes being polar pistons which each has an inlet passage therein forming an inlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the polar piston and a set of inlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each inlet aperture lags with respect to the adjacent end, and each polar piston also has therein an outlet passage forming an outlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of outlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each outlet aperture leads with respect to the adjacent piston end, each inlet and outlet orifice opening through one of the fluid transfer openings in the outer shell.   
     
     
       20. The heart pump machine of claim 19 further comprising means for causing the pistons to rotate at identical angular velocities and directions with respect to the center of the interior of the outer shell. 
     
     
       21. The heart pump machine of claim 19 including an inner shell having a substantially spherical outer surface centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, wherein the inner shell has six openings, each aligned with one piston axis, and the machine further includes six piston gears, each piston gear coaxially connected to the bottom surface of one piston and extending through one opening into the inner shell; a central core which is centered within the interior of the outer shell and the inner shell; six piston axles which each extend from the central core into a bearing hole in one piston gear and piston in coaxial relation to the piston central axis; and eight connecting gears, each connecting gear rotatably mounted between the central core and inner shell and between and operably connected to three adjacent piston gears so that rotation of any piston causes rotation of all pistons. 
     
     
       22. The heart pump machine of claim 19 wherein the two piston ends are each inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston, and the oval conical surface at about 90° from either end with respect to the central axis is inclined at approximately a 35.2644° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       23. The heart pump machine of claim 22 wherein the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections extend to and intersect at each piston end along a line which is inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       24. The heart pump machine of claim 22 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston further includes two cylindrical surface sections at the ends of the piston which intersect the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which extend between the cylindrical surface sections. 
     
     
       25. The heart pump machine of claim 20 wherein four of said rotary pistons are equatorial pistons having coplanar central axes, each equatorial piston having a cavity extending radially inwardly from a top of the piston and formed concentric to the central axis of the piston; and wherein the machine further includes a motor for each equatorial piston substantially located within the cavity and mounted to the outer shell, and means for directing rotational motion from each motor to the adjacent piston.   
     
     
       26. A spherical rotary machine comprising: (a) an outer shell including a substantially spherical interior surface forming an interior with a center;   (b) six rotary pistons within the interior of the outer shell which are each rotatable about its own central axis, the six axes being orthogonally centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, each piston including a top convex spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to, and located adjacent to the spherical interior surface, and an oval conical side surface substantially defined by line segments which are radial with respect to the center, the oval side surface of each piston at least nearly touching tangentially along generally radial line segments the oval side surface of each of its four adjacent pistons as the six pistons rotate, so that the oval side surfaces of any three adjacent pistons form a displacement chamber which varies in size as the pistons rotate;   (c) a central core centered within the interior;   (d) six piston shafts which each extend from the central core into a bearing hole in a truncated bottom surface of one piston in coaxial relation to the piston central axis;   (e) one piston gear for each piston, each piston gear coaxially connected to the truncated bottom surface of one piston to rotate with the piston; and   (f) at least one connecting gear positioned between three adjacent piston gears and operably connected thereto, so that rotation of any one piston causes simultaneous rotation of at least two other pistons.   
     
     
       27. The spherical rotary machine of claim 26 further comprising an inner shell including a substantially spherical outer surface thereon centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, the inner shell also having six openings through which each of the piston gears extend into the inner shell; wherein each piston includes a bottom concave spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical outer surface' of the inner shell, truncating the oval conical side surface and thereby forming said truncated bottom surface of the piston; and wherein each connecting gear is rotatably mounted between the central core and inner shell and between and operably connected to three adjacent piston gears so that rotation of any piston causes rotation of all pistons. 
     
     
       28. The spherical rotary machine of claim 26 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two piston ends which are about 180° apart with respect to the central axis and are each inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston, and wherein the oval conical surface at about 90° from either end with respect to the central axis is inclined at approximately a 35.2644° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       29. The spherical rotary machine of claim 28 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which are each centered at about 90° from both ends with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
       30. The spherical rotary machine of claim 29 wherein the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections extend to and intersect at each piston end along a line which is inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       31. The spherical rotary machine of claim 29 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston further includes two cylindrical surface sections at the ends of the piston which intersect the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which extend between the cylindrical surface sections. 
     
     
       32. The spherical rotary machine of claim 26 wherein four of said rotary pistons are equatorial pistons having coplanar central axes, each equatorial piston having a cavity extending radially inwardly from a top of the piston and formed concentric to the central axis of the piston; and wherein the machine further includes: a motor for each equatorial piston substantially located within the cavity and mounted to the outer shell, and means for directing rotational motion from each motor to the adjacent piston.   
     
     
       33. The spherical rotary machine of claim 29 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an inlet passage forming an inlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of inlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each inlet aperture lags with respect to the adjacent piston end. 
     
     
       34. The spherical rotary machine of claim 29 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an outlet passage forming an outlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of outlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each outlet aperture leads with respect to the adjacent end. 
     
     
       35. A spherical rotary machine comprising: (a) an outer shell including a substantially spherical interior surface forming an interior with a center;   (b) six rotary pistons within the interior of the outer shell which are each rotatable about its own central axis, the six axes being orthogonally centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, each piston including a top convex spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical interior surface, and an oval conical side surface substantially defined by line segments which are radial with respect to the center, the oval side surface of each piston at least nearly touching tangentially along generally radial line segments the oval side surface of each of its four adjacent pistons as the six pistons rotate, so that the oval side surfaces of any three adjacent pistons form a displacement chamber which varies in size as the pistons rotate; and   (c) gear means for interlocking the pistons to rotate synchronously at identical angular velocity and direction with respect to the center of the interior of the outer shell.   
     
     
       36. The spherical rotary machine of claim 35 further comprising: a central core centered within the interior of the outer shell; and six piston shafts which each extend from the central core into a bearing hole in a truncated bottom surface of one piston in coaxial relation to the piston central axis. 
     
     
       37. The spherical rotary machine of claim 36 wherein the gear means comprises: one piston gear for each piston, each piston' gear coaxially connected to the truncated bottom surface of one piston to rotate with the piston; and eight connecting gears, one connecting gear positioned between each three adjacent piston gears and operably connected thereto, so that rotation of any one piston causes simultaneous rotation of all other pistons. 
     
     
       38. The spherical rotary machine of claim 37 further comprising: an inner shell including a substantially spherical outer surface thereon centered on the center of the interior of the outer shell, the inner shell also having six openings through which each of the piston gears extends into the inner shell; wherein each piston includes a bottom concave spherical surface conforming substantially in shape to and located adjacent to the spherical outer surface of the inner shell, truncating the oval conical side surface and thereby forming said truncated bottom surface of the piston; and wherein each connecting gear is rotatably mounted between the central core and inner shell. 
     
     
       39. The spherical rotary machine of claim 37 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two piston ends which are about 180° apart with respect to the central axis and are each inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston, and wherein the oval conical surface at about 90° from either end with respect to the central axis is inclined at approximately a 35.2644° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       40. The spherical rotary machine of claim 39 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston includes two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which are each centered at about 90° from both ends with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
       41. The spherical rotary machine of claim 40 wherein the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections extend to and intersect at each piston end along a line which is inclined at approximately a 54.7356° angle to the central axis of the piston. 
     
     
       42. The spherical rotary machine of claim 40 wherein the oval conical side surface of each piston further includes two cylindrical surface sections at the ends of the piston which intersect the two opposed elliptical conical surface sections which extend between the cylindrical surface sections. 
     
     
       43. The spherical rotary machine of claim 37 wherein four of said rotary pistons are equatorial pistons having coplanar central axes, each equatorial piston having a cavity extending radially inwardly from a top of the piston and formed concentric to the central axis of the piston; and wherein the machine further includes: a motor for each equatorial piston substantially located within the cavity and mounted to the outer shell, and means for directing rotational motion from each motor to the adjacent piston.   
     
     
       44. The spherical rotary machine of claim 40 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an inlet passage forming an inlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of inlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each inlet aperture lags with respect to the adjacent piston end. 
     
     
       45. The spherical rotary machine of claim 40 wherein fewer than three of said rotary pistons are polar pistons having coaxial central axes, each polar piston having therein an outlet passage forming an outlet orifice in the top convex spherical surface of the piston and a set of outlet apertures opening near one end of each elliptical conical surface section such that as the piston rotates, each outlet aperture leads with respect to the adjacent end.